SugarHouse Casino

Coordinates: 39°57′51″N 75°07′53″W / 39.9642°N 75.1314°W / 39.9642; -75.1314

SugarHouse Casino
Location Fishtown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Address 1080 N. Delaware Ave.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Opening date September 23, 2010
Theme Contemporary
Industrial
Number of rooms None.
Total gaming space 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2)
Casino type Land-based
Riverfront
Owner HSP Gaming, L.P.
Architect Cope Linder
Website http://www.sugarhousecasino.com/

SugarHouse Casino is a casino entertainment development along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's Fishtown neighborhood, one of five stand-alone casinos awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. SugarHouse's first phase opened on September 23, 2010.

History

SugarHouse Casino was awarded a gaming license on December 20, 2006 by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, along with four others.[1] Many neighborhood residents sought to prevent the development of the casino due to quality of life issues. Residents of the Fishtown neighborhood have taken the lead in the creation and leadership of the prominent anti-casino organizations, including Casino Free Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Neighborhood Alliance, and Neighbors Allied for the Best Riverfront. On the other side, Fishtown Action (FACT), the largest membership organization in the nearby community with over 600 members, has continuously supported the casino project. This support is largely in part because of a community benefits agreement along with the New Kensington CDC.[2]

The 1,300,000-square-foot (120,000 m2) casino complex is located on the 22-acre (8.9 ha) site of the former Jack Frost Sugar Refinery, hence the "SugarHouse" name. Phase I, estimated at $550 million, includes a state-of-the-art casino floor with 3,000 slot machines, and tables, along with a variety of retail and dining outlets. Future phases of the project include a 500-room hotel with health spa, a 30,000-square-foot (2,800 m2) event center, and expanded dining and retail facilities.

It is estimated that SugarHouse Casino will generate in excess of $1 billion in gaming taxes to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia over the first five years of operation.[3]

On April 15, 2008, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court convened in Philadelphia to determine if the City of Philadelphia had the right to lease the land where the casino was to be located. The city's Mayor Nutter revoked the SugarHouse license in January,[4] and the city's lawyers claimed the city never had the authority to issue the license in the first place. The owners of SugarHouse Casino argued that the city could not legally revoke a license to build on the riverbank.[5] On August 22, 2008 the Supreme Court ruled that the permits were legal.[6]

Groundbreaking on the project began on October 9, 2009,[7] The casino opened on September 23, 2010.[8] and the first phase opened on September 23, 2010.[9]

Dining

Expansion

On July 22, 2014, SugarHouse casino broke ground on a project to expand the casino floor, add restaurants, add a parking garage, and bring more amenities to the riverfront. The expansion is expected to open in 2015.[10][11]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ PA GAMING CONTROL BOARD APPROVES 11 PERMANENT OPERATOR LICENSES. Pgcb.state.pa.us (December 20, 2006). Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Casino gets community benefits agreement". PlanPhilly | Casino gets community benefits agreement. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  3. ↑ Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force Final Report Archived December 16, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Marcia Gelbart (January 24, 2008) Nutter revokes SugarHouse license. philly.com
  5. ↑ Court to hear SugarHouse casino land dispute
  6. ↑ Mary Clair Dale; AP (April 15, 2008). "Pa. court weighs Philly waterfront casino license", International Business Times.
  7. ↑ "Sugarhouse Casino begins construction". whyy.org. October 9, 2009.
  8. ↑ Mark Abrahams (September 24, 2010). "SugarHouse Casino Opens For Business".
  9. ↑ Brian Krassenstein (September 23, 2010) SugarHouse Casino Opens in Philadelphia, Will it Kill Atlantic City?. Thenewsoftoday.com. Retrieved on February 5, 2013.
  10. ↑ "SugarHouse Casino breaks ground on $164 million expansion". 6 ABC Action News. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "Urban Engineers Breaks Ground with SugarHouse Casino". aiaphiladelpia.org. AIA Philadelphia. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

External links


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